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Posted Friday 31st May 2013 at 8.34am
May in the Meadows
May in the Meadows is hardly the Wind in the Willows. (Brian Milligan, BBC News)
Rachel gets paid at the end of each month. By the beginning of the following month, all her salary has already gone on rent and bills. She survives to the next payday on £140 of tax credits and £134 child benefit. She owes £2,500 in energy bills but is slowly managing to pay that off.
Rachel does not count herself as being poor, though. As proof, she mentions that her daughter goes to Brownies, and her son plays football. She says she is fortunate compared with many others living in the Meadows.
There is some good news in the Meadows. A new food bank has opened and that means there is less shoplifting.
"Shoplifting for basics - milk and bread - has gone down since the food bank started," says Sharon Mills. "Because if your kids are hungry, you will go stealing," she insists.
But the squeeze on people's incomes this year will continue to make life tougher.
"There is a breaking point. People are being pushed over the edge. They're suicidal."
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